Door latch



Feb. 2, 1954 w, FALK 2,668,072

DOOR LATCH Filed Feb. 14, 1949 5. Sheets-Sheet l 105 I ll I "r Tl I Feb.2, 195 4 Filed Feb. 14, 1949 H. w. FALK 2,668,072

DOOR LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harold Walter. Fez/k QM miamg Feb. 2, 1954w, FALK 2,668,072

DOOR LATCH Fiied' Feb. 14, 1949 :5 Sheets-Sheet s MOVEMENT OF CZ UTC/l)7. 10 3mm Harold Wa/fer Fa/k Patented Feb. 2, 1954 i iaiifftiiiit "ttenn s? 'DUOR LATGH a corporation "6! infiesota. miplfcationFebruary 14,1949-, sci-mite; ates,

difficult'to att'achttb woodenidqors in the t ost such locks ,jnclud'ean operating meglga whibhfmlistfit within a cavity cut' into the edge ofthe'door. P .e A .t 'A-featureof the present invention lies 'nthe factthat the'iockmay be mounted a d oo Joy merei securingithe structure inwo i tersectin hles',"6ne of Which is boredintothedmr ed e fand "theothers-of which-extends through the doorbetweenoppositesiirf'acesthereon,t V I, t

A feature of the present invention lies in the simplicity ofeenstructionand injhe ease-of -"assembly "of the various parts, .d09r,loqkjs const'rueted so that therparts thereof n ay be manuailyzfermedby.punchrpresswperations end thus may be formed'in substantial volumeat-low cost.

A "feature "of th'e present-invention, lies in the "provision of a|'d06I' which includes-e simplefnovel type of lockingmechanism; B51 merelmgying ene handienf the'dooriateh in an axial direqtion the -lock mayhefengeged'or fdi-sengaged; ;':Ihus the 'dooi-imayzbe' i'oeked by 'pessure a ainst, the

locked by pulling upon the door :b'effinje: the dooris "bpenedfthuselimina ting the requirement ofan extra opefationto ioek 'or unlock thedgpr.

"A feature of the-present invention'lies-mthe provision of :an eccentricdoor-latch handle., of streamiined design presents an -attreet;ive

appearance and which provides increased -leverage for-operating the doorwithe/mmimum of ease. V 7 V 'An-acidedifeature of the-presentinvent-ionelies inthe'fact tha'tfn'y ioqk is immediately, appiicabie todoors'iof various typesmegardiess of "the. edge A f e of t e me it,imiwfl int't i Pr v n a or t Whi h y b .1 .d.-9n interior doors su chasjthe fdOQlS o f -h"itl r o; ns and e e, nd. wh 7 a e, p ov sleflit ens wh r b he door. ma ep aeii tvmill opposite side in an emergency. Mylock is ordithey deemed 15375521 Hikiei 'moteh 'iit tr n mit emer ue entwee .ie th eo eo fie side Q et @9 1 wis ly ins rum nt ma heins d f 10.lie q en i s. qteleune xtpee 5 y 13? the floor. The mm movement if theW h i.. h. ns11 f th An a e ture may be pre sigeef $1 0. .1 the .o t 55. v'si I 9 A of the 51esefiiit inven hi1 "lie andles on opnosite sidesof the door 15 2m an e tese te e ieeee to L. d r ;r ette, neludes. a;

which aqts esthe pivqtelsiipg t foi' the shank settes tihich 'surfaee rc n e e i eE E'IQlem me dli and thes e t held the .h hdle tqe hne e ult?2 1 up n-e th rtdoex eees le 'tte ifvie by the bolts connecting thefianges'on opposite qe the oer- Th 1 E inv n n w l b ino e' zl ari ari lI ifi r i th IQ owi s s e i c t pnend ims In the drawings forming a,part ofmyspecification: t -Figure 1 is "a, moss sectional"viewfthroi'igh a door at the location-"of ni d'o'oflatch showing thearraitgement efthe'perts' or the 1am *feiettiveto the "(16 01".

Figure "ease-side elei stioh al" *v it ei one side we f i e 'e ee.

3 latch partly in section showing the movement of one of the handles tolock the door.

Figure '7 is a sectional view through the door latch looking toward oneof the surface flanges or rosettes, the position of the section beingindicated by the line '!'I of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through a portion of the latch showing thelatch in unlocked position.

Figure 9 is an end elevation view of the covering plate for the latchbolt.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through the handle shank showing theconstruction thereof.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the latch operatingmechanism.

Figure 12 is a sectional view through the latch looking at the oppositeflange or rosette from that illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings.

Figure 13 is a view of a detail portion of the supporting hub mechanismfor supporting the latch shank.

Figure 14v is an end elevation view showing one detail of the latch.

The door latch A is used in conjunction with a door B of any suitabletype or construction. The door B is preferably formed of wood or similarmaterial and the mechanism for operating the door is mounted in twoapertures Ill and I I. The aperture I extends into the edge of the doorand extends substantially normally thereto toward the hinged edge of thedoor. The aperture I I intersects the axis of the aperture A and extendsfrom one surface I2 of the door B to the opposite surface I3 thereof.

The latch actuating mechanism is best illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4,and of the drawings.

As shown in these figures the latch is enclosed by a casing indicated ingeneral by the numeral I4 and which includes a pair of casing sides I5and I6 which are preferably riveted together in p the manner which willbe described in detail.

which is generally rectangular in outer form and which is provided witha central aperture through which the end of the sleeve-like casingportions I! extend. The extremity of the sleeve I1 is provided withspaced fingers 23 which are bent outwardly from the body of the sleeveto overlie portions of the plate 22. However, the plate 22 is providedwith a pair of opposed inwardly extending fingers 24 which engageagainst the end of the sleeve I1 to hold the sleeve from axial movementwith respect to the plate 22. Thus the sleeve I l is held from axialmovement in one direction by the ears 23 and held from axial movement inthe opposite direction by the ears 24. The plate 22 is provided with apair of spaced apertures 25 therethrough for accommodation of screws 26for holding the mechanism housing in place upon the door as will belater described. The plate 22 is also provided with a peripheral flange21 which is of a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the ears23 so that the overlying escutcheon plate may lie flush thereagainst.

The two housing parts I5 and I6 are held together by engagement of thesleeve end 1 through the aperture in the anchor plate 22 and also by apivot pin 29 which extends through the flat parallel sides 20 and Hthereof near the lower edge of the housing intermediate the endsthereof. This pivot pin is provided with small diameter ends whichextend through the housing portions Zlland 2I and these ends are rivetedover to form a connection between the housing parts. A bell crank lever30 preferably formed of two laminations for simplification inconstruction is pivotally supported upon the pivot 29 intermediate thehousing sides 20 and 2|. This bell crank lever 30 fits snugly betweenthe sides so as to pivot freely within the housing without excessiveaxial movement.

A disc 3| having a notched upper edge forms a partition wallintermediate the ends of the sleeve portions I1 and ears 32 on oppositesides of the disc 3| extend through cooperable apertures in the housingportions I5 and IE to properly locate the disc. The ends of the ears 32may be riveted over or slit slightly to further assist in anchoring thehousing portions together. The disc 3i engages one arm 33 of the bellcrank lever 30 to limit pivotal movement of this bell crank lever in acounter-clockwise direction in the position illustrated in Figure 4 ofthe drawings.

The latch bolt 34 includes a cylindrical body 35 having a flattened endsurface 36 formed by cutting away the cylindrical body along a chord andthis bolt is also provided with an inclined cam surface 31 opposite theflattened surface 36. The inner end of the latch bolt 34' is reduced indiameter as illustrated at 39 and this reduced diameter portion isprovided with a peripheral groove 40.

A latch bolt operating arm 4| is supported within the cylindrical sleeveportion I1 and moves axially with respect thereto. The arm 4| is bestillustrated in Figures 1 and 11 of the drawings and includes an arcuatebody 42 extending longitudinally of the sleeve portions I1 andsubstantially concentric therewith. This body 42 is provided with aninturned end flange 43 which is designed to engage in the groove 40 ofthe latch bolt 34. It will be noted that because of this constructionthe latch bolt 34 is free to rotate within the housing I4 about its axisand may be moved longitudinally in any rotative position thereof by thearm 4I.

As indicated in Figures 1, 4, and 11 of the drawings, the arm M isprovided with a rectangular aperture 44 therein intermediate its ends,the aperture 44 terminating at one end in an upturned shoulder 45. Thisaperture 44 is designed to accommodate the lever arm 33 of the bellcrank lever 30 and engagement of the bell crank lever 30 in the aperture44 permits longitudinal movement of the arm M and consequently of thebolt 34. The latch bolt 35 is provided with an axial recess 46 in itsinner end to accommodate one end of a spring 41. The other end of thespring 41 bears against the disc SI and is held in proper relationthereto by an indentation 49 at the center of the disc 3I.

A crank arm 50 preferably formed of two laminations for ease inmanufacture is mounted between the parallel ends 20 and H of the housingI4. An arcuate spacing plate 5| is provided between the flat parallelsides 29 and 2I and is held in place by laterally extending ears 53which extend through suitable apertures in the plate portions 28 and 2|.The center of arcuation of the spacing plate SI coincides with the axisof the crank arm 59 and the adjacent end 54of the craxlk al mfiil 'is iel'mdel idfit .ti eei withm itheplateiel. rrhe-lcrankiar'm sessinrevidedwith a protesting ena -r55 nwhien eneages agamst the lever -larm ite ofthe bell eranklever tensive loneituiiinal movement between the housingparts "so that the handle shank may-be e'ictendedtherethi-ouen:inepplying the latch tothe :door.

The handle sharik evin-general com'tises' an elongated reetaneu lar barwliiehis fixe relative tocme handlei'al Asleeve 59 enei rcles the'shazhk fifi at one *end' thereof. Thi isl'eeve i'is seed inwardlyonfeur rieht aneularl arrangedsides a's indicated ates so asto fitisii'uglelbeut tne shank '58. A lp'in 61 extends through-the inwardly pressedsleeve porit'ions fit anl through the shank st to hold these -pai ts'assenibiedtigether and "to revent a-ny axial: relativeiiiovementorwelative rota tive mevement.

The' 'sleeve '55' is provided With' -a heripheral wing '01 hul -gem at apoint spaced from itsoliter iend. neeha-r t3 is mou-nte'd u po'nthe-sleeve 59 :olitwardl-y' o'f the bulge 52 and extends over theb'ulgeand inwardly thereof i-n spacedrelation to the sleeve."Thepurpos'e of this arrangement will he later describedin -'detail.'The hanGle E-T Sis tormed of inner Wall-portion of oval or t'e'arcdi-opshape and is lcenneeted' by a perish erallshoul'der to an-bll'twardlyflaring wall "'56.

:A' suggested handle shape of the ioregoing config urationis depi'c'tedin Figure 2. The Outer handle porti'tin ti is shaped -s'iri iiarly tothe-inner wa -ll portion and includes -a peripheral flange 69 which ispresse'd over the wall 66 a'gainst'the f shoulderfit, thus forming asubstantially smooth roun'ded'haniile of eccentricshape. A reinforcingplate it lies inwardly 'o'f theinner plate within the shoal-deri e andis apertured to'ifit snugly abl'jllt the sleeve 533. The end ofthesleeve is riveted over or peened over asi ndieated at '1 so as to clampthe coller 63, the-innerhahdle portion 6G amil the teihfioreineplate "Hibetween this end flange'a nd the pe'riphe'rai rim -01 head 62.

In order toinsure the motation of the handle in unison with the sleeve'fifi' the aperture in'the reinforcing plate "it is 'rectangulari nshape and the outer end'of'the sleevett is "deformed to fit into thisrectangular opening thereby "preventing 'l'o-tatiflll between the sleeveand the plate 19. As thew-plate i=5 fits snugly within th shoiihflex-"65 of the'innerhandle portiontt rotation hi the handle in unisonWit-'h' the sleeve isinsilred.

In order to properly support the sleeve 5'9 I provide a flange orrosette t2 'whidh is provided with a rolled. edge 33 acting to securethe' rosette or flange '12 to a disc 74 The disc 1'4 is pr'ovided with arectangular aperture *th erethrough. The rosette T2 is falseseeurely'attaehed tive to the shank 56. The plate 1! is of proper 9outside dimensions-to fit snugly Within theapertune it of the-disc Minone axial position of the shank 56. By exerting anolltward"ioh'gitiidinal pull o'n the handle -51 the plate I? -ma'y-io'e movedoutwardly out of alignment with the disc 8 #4. menrthaqflate' 'mam diselfiare in aliehmerit the' shank 'eiikcan'indt b otatemthus -acting''ezgia leek. HoVieven-whenathe handle--51 is efilled outward-1y =fso itsto mote the'splate 1 l out of engagement with th'e' disc "M,"-'theshank56 -rnay b*e' rdtaited freely' byieith'er of the handles.

' ft wlll -he notd that the olitwa'rd movement ajf the shank 56 relativeto the "rosette "or flan'ge N 2 is filimite'd by iigagemBntof thel-plate' H with a washer-r89- encir-sling the sleeve :59- by slidalolemovement ther eupc'i'n. The Washer l is interpe's'ed betweemtlle fixedhiib 16 and. the plate 'Tl so ets ta limit outti ardmovement 6f theshank by' the#ihandie=-l. The handl 8| is 'mo'unted upon the other endof the shahk fifi The handle a l 'isin general similar in constructionto "the handle 57 includ'es' an inner portien =82 and em outersportioniii-Whichfafe rolled peripherally together. The irmer Than'dle:p'orti'on-M is :prosided with" a iiier-ipheral ishoulder8'4 which6011'- nects the body of the inner zportio'n t'otheenicirclm g wall "85.l -h "outer handle mortion' 83 :is-provided witha gieripherah wall 86which is rell'edaboutthe tv'al l fifi in sucha waiyas to hold the I twohandle portions f'rom separation and "to spresent :a substantially'smooth outer s'ti'rfaee.

A sleeve"8"l' ":eiicireles' the ishank 56 near the freeend thereof. Thissleeve sl is pressedin w'ardly along iohr righvafigulaMy arrangedopartsof the' -'sleeve so astoeprodfiee a'rectangular'cross section sleeve"I-portion "at 89. The cylindrical -o11ter portion -90 of the sleeve 8!is aprovidedwith em outwardly protesting head rim 9! against Whidh thehandle fllis 'elampe'd. col-lar tzis ainchoied eutwardlyo'f therimfiiand is provided with a sleeve portion extending over' the' bead or riin'91 in spaced=relati'oh-'to thecylinderiporiiibflBWdfflYhG sleeve. Theinner'porti'ontz of the handle :8! "is=:ape'rm-r'ed to accommodate theen d"0f the sleeve-8*! and this inner portion"82 reinforced 'byeaii'einforcing plate 93 which fits sn lfgly "Within the -shou-lder 8 5at one end there'- of. The outer end er the "sleeve- 8 is outwardlyiive'ted bripeened attt'so' as teal-amp the collar 92, ft'h'e innerh'andie-iportioh fl, and the reinforc- -"rngipl'ate 93 between therimfirshou lder Bland the fl-anged end 54. The aperture 95in there'-inforeing'plate -93 is p'referab'1'y rectangular in shape, and the enterend of the sleeve "81 is stressed into this redtangular aperture so asto sprevent relative rotation 'heln'rveen the handle 8 1 andthesle'eve81.

While the "shank 56 and the inwardly pressed zportiohs-tt and 89"o f*thesleeves 59' and 8 respectively have "been described as "rectangular,

' it will be understood that these elements Could he triangular,hexagonaLmr-someother shape if desired, it' being theintention thattheshank and sleevesmustrotatein unison.

As indicated in Figure 10 of the drawingsthe shan-k iifi isprovided'with @ara-l-lel longitudinally ex-tendingwgrooves 96 'inopposite sides thereof. The-end of the shank is notched asindicated at97 betweenthe grobvestt. A hole 99 is also finilled through the shank itto connect the :grooves.

n shim-g 'ji' tt is qirevidetl aloh'p "end It 1 ans tutwarely bowedaiins "lo-2 and it; which he in' the grdoves at'anetend to bulgeoutwardly therefrom. The spring Hit "is provided with int ir ned epposedends-10% 'ehgag'edih the aperture es to 'ele tiie spring in'slace. i lsthe shank it is inserted into the rectangular cross section porti'cinflil of tiie 'sle've fi the irrg --'compresses so as to resist riativeieiieituiiirial movement 1 of the shank. If desired the rectangularcross section portion 89 of the sleeve 81 may have opposed channels ontwo sides of the sleeve so that the handle BI may not be inserted atright angles to its proper position.

In order to support the sleeve 8'! and the adjacent end of the handleshank I provide a flange or escutcheon plate I05 having secured theretoor integral therewith, a hub it. This hub I66 is of proper internaldiameter to accommodate the cylindrical portions of the sleeve 81 and tosupport the same. The hub I06 extends between the collar 82 and thecylindrical portion 90 of the sleeve so as to provide an overlappingjoint between these parts.

An anchor plate I! is marginally secured to the rosette or flange "35,the marginal edge I99 of this rosette or flange being rolled about theedge of the flange I91. The flange I8! is centrally apertured toaccommodate the inner cylindrical end of the sleeve 81.

The flange I95, anchor flange till and hub I85 are secured to the sleeve8! in the manner best illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings.The inner extremity H8 of the sleeve Bl is provided with two oppositelydisposed slits or cuts I II at a point spaced from the inner extremityof the sleeve. A washer I I2 encircles the cylindrical portion Hi) ofthe sleeve 81 inwardly of the anchor flange N17. The portion of thesleeve 8? inwardly of the saw cuts III is then bulged outwardly as.indicated at H3 in Figure 12 of the drawings, thus formin sleeveportions which extend beyond the periphery of the cylindrical portion ofthe sleeve for holding the handle units assembled.

The anchor flange Hi1 is provided with integral oppositely disposedsleeves H4 parallel to the shank 56 on which the handle is supported.These sleeves I I4 are designed to extend through apertures in thesurface of the door above and below the aperture II in which the shank5% is mounted. The sleeves H4 are internally threaded to accommodate capscrews H 5. These cap screws H5 extend through aligned openings in therosette or flange H and the disc M to hold the two handle parts clampedagainst opposite surfaces of the door. The screws I I5 are of sufficientlength to permit a variation in thickness of the doors, the sleeves H 4being of a length to extend nearly through a door of minimum thickness.Thus the two rosettes or flanges encircling the shank are clampedtogether by means which will not permit relative rotation and which willyet accommodate doors of varying thickness. In this way the flange 14 isheld from rotation and when the rectangular aperture '15 thereinembraces the rectangular plate Tl, rotatable with the shank 56, theshank is positively locked from rotation.

In Figure 9 of the drawings I disclose an escutcheon plate H5 which mayoverlie the anchor plate 22 illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings andbe secured thereto. The escutcheon plate H6 is provided with spacedapertures H7 therethrough which are spaced similarly to the holes 25 ofthe plate 22. Intermediate the holes H! I provide an aperture H9 whichis circular in shape throughout most of its periphery, but which isprovided with a flat side I26, parallel to a vertical edge of the plateH6. This aperture H9 is designed to accommodate the projecting end ofthe latch bolt 34, the flat side 36 thereof engaging against the flatside I20 of the escutcheon plate aperture H9 to hold the latch bolt 34from rotation about its axis. In mounting the door latch upon a door, anaperture I0 is drilled into the edge of the door parallel to theopposite door surfaces. At a proper distance from the door edge, theaperture H is bored through the door between the opposite surfaces I2and I3 thereof. Apertures are also drilled through the door parallel tothe aperture I I and above and below the aperture I I to accommodate thesleeves I I4 and the cap screws I I5.

In preferred form of my construction a shallow rectangular recess isformed in the door edge about the outer end of the aperture Iii toaccommodate the anchor plate 22 and the escutcheon plate H6. While thisis not absolutely essential it is desirable that these plates besubstantially flush with the edge of the door as illustrated in Figure lof the drawings.

The latch housing I4 is next inserted into the aperture I!) in such amanner that the aligned shank openings I 2| and I22 in the housin sideportions 20 and 2| are aligned with the aperture H and the anchor plate22 and escutcheon plate H6 are in their rectangular aperture. Screws 26or other suitable fastening means may then be inserted through thealigned openings in the anchor plate and the escutcheon plate, carebeing taken to position the escutcheon plate so that the flat side I29thereof is nearest the side of the door which swings inwardly as thedoor is opened. This places the cam surface 34 of the latch bolt inposition to be retracted by a suitable keeper as the door swings intoclosed position.

The shank 55, together with the rosette i2 and its hub and anchor disc,are then put into position, the shank 56 being inserted through thealigned apertures l2! and I22 of the housing I l and through the crankarm 59 within the housing. The handle BI is next applied to theillwardly projecting end of the shank 56, the escutcheon handles 57 and8! being parallel when applied.

The sleeves H 4 of the anchor plate It? are inserted into theirrespective apertures in the door and the cap screws H5 are insertedthrough the apertures in the rosette 12 and disc M and en-- gaged inthese sleeves H 4. The cap screws are then tightened until the anchorplates '18 and are drawn against opposite sides of the wall. It will benoted that the cap screws H5 are accessible only from the side of thedoor latch which controls the locking mechanism so that the lock may notbe merely disengaged from the door to gain access through the door.

When the handle has been thus assembled, it will be noted that rotationof either handle in one direction will act to rotate the bell crank 3:1in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4-, thereby moving the armII to the right as viewed in this figure. The forward end of this arm isengaged in the slot 49 of the bolt 34 and thus pivotal movement of thelever 3!) acts to retract the latch bolt 34 and to disengage the samefrom its cover. When the turning pressure on the handle is released thespring 41 urges the latch bolt 34 outwardly and returns the bell crank30 to its initial position. The bell crank in turn returns the crank arm50 to normal position, thus rotating the handles in unison to startingposition.

In order to lock the door and prevent the latch bolt from beingretracted by the handle 8i, it is only necessary to press inwardly onthe handle 51, sliding this handle and the shank 58 to the left asindicated in Figure 3. This action moves the; rectangular: platen 1 PH;intmpiits ap rture-15, thereby :preventingi: retation'e of; the shanksby eitherrhandle. lniordento release theslo kiit s only; necessary:toalmlli slightly; upnnpthef-handle 51 before rotatina hersame; thuawithdi'atv ne the, plate: H from-i engagement: in; the; aper-1711138515;

If theloek isjto bfiolldefi asea bathreemiloclaor the like, an openingI25;may beginitheg handie s: .so; th-atasuitable:v toolimay bee insertedengagedaeainstztheeproienti e gendz irtbeesh 56.: Byusing: this: tooliassa:leventhea-shank, 1 may "bermoved to.-:disensase ztheilockinae whnismn This; procedure; may: be;- followed a in, an emergencyrintherevenizarschil becomesnaecider-e tallylockedzrinairoomnon'innannpothersuch emergency-i.

T1183 eccentriczshaneaoh theahandle -iS2-0ii inter-e est in-gthatiitrpermits thealatehzbolt toibe'mer easiiyoperated;thanzwitinaeoirculartype-handle At the samatima the:streamlinedi hane of.th handle lendsmuch to the attractiveness of the design; Inthe interesto'of compactnessof showing and to save room on the drawing sheets, the andles: 51; and.-8 I are shown mounted ,withith ir small radiusend directedctowardthe a jn edge of the door. While" the-position of the handlesmay beadjusted.:so:-that the small: dif: ameter ends thereofare.directediupwardlyt dewnwardly,- orrtowardoraway. fromgthe free-edge orthe door,a ittis .generallysconsidered moreaattritttive in appearancetormountrthe: handles-with the small diameter. .end .pointingi awayfrom: :the free edgeof the .door innormaLpositiorr:

In accordance. with.theepatente:statutes;1thave described-3 theprinciplese on; construction-:. an operation of my door latch and whileI have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire tohave it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope ofthe following claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housing forslidably supporting said latch bolt, a shank extending transverselythrough said housing, latch mechanism connecting said shank and saidlatch bolt for reciprocating said latch bolt upon rotative movement ofsaid shank, bearings on opposite sides of the door encircling said shankand rotatably supporting the same, flanges supporting said bearings anddesigned to lie against opposite surfaces of the door, and meansextending through the door connecting the flanges on opposite sidesthereof and resilient means carried by said shank frictionally engagingone of said bearings to retain said shank in a selected position.

2. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housing slidablysupporting said latch bolt, a handle shank extending through saidhousing on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said latchbolt, latch mechanism connecting said shank to said latch bolt forreciprocating the latch bolt upon rotative movement of the shank, asleeve encircling said shank on either side of the door and rotatablewith the shank, means connecting one of said sleeves to said shank tohold this sleeve from longitudinal movement on the shank, the shankbeing longitudinally slidable relative to the other sleeve, bearings oneither side of the door encircling said sleeves and supporting thesleeves for relative rotation, flanges connected to said bearings andengaging; onm siteqsurtaces of, 1 the.- door; means oldingiaidtothersleeve fromiaxial movement IGIatiYGTVtO; one ofasaidflanges; andcmeanslex? tendinggthrouehitheidoor .connectina'saidflanees and; holdinagthe:sameragainstthe? doort 3.1The; structunerdescr-ibed claim 2-: and, in-.-cludinaa; hand-1e secured ,toreachiof said sleeves forrotation in -u-nison;- therewith 4; The;structureidescribedtin claims z andii-ne cludingalockinggplate on said shank-.anderotate able therewith, asloekingmembenseeured-to one of saidiflanges and held fromzre tion,,saidzlockring1memberhaving-aniaperturatherein designed to accommodate said lockingplate in one:.-rota.- tive :positionwoflsaid hlate,-,and;meansfonslidably supportingg s-aid: 'shan for limiting; axial may-e: ment tomove said locking plate 1111110301?! out;of en agement; .W-ith:said-locking; member; means cooperablevwithzsaid lockinggplateflimitingaxial movement, of -=said Shana 5.. The-structure idescribed-rinr zlaimia andine eluding a locking element on said;-sha1 1lo;.androtatableimuniscntherewith; anapertured cooperablee locking. element:secured; in; fixed relation to onaoiisaid fianeess and {locked to ac omd h efirstvmen ioned docking; member ini one rotaive' positiorrthereofi,and; meansesupporting said shank for limited:axialzmovementymeanscooper? ablecwithrisaid;lockingmlatetlimitin zaxial mevamentzofljsaidishanlsesaiddocking, plate-being, mov able into endyout of;said, aperture to;- rloek r. or unlocleisa d:shankeiromrmtation;

6? AidQ01, latch mcludi-n rec pr ca lea h bolt-a hensingzsupnertinazsaidlatch-,boltaa hanr dler hankiextend ns transver ely?:thr ueh: said ousins; meansrconne tmg-aseidz hank: and -v said latch bolt for reciprocatingthe latch bolt upon rotative movement of said handle shank, a sleeveencircling one end of said shank, said sleeve including a portion havinga substantially cylindrical outer surface, an inwardly deformed portionon said sleeve designed to contact said shank and to hold said sleevefrom rotation relative to said shank, a shoulder extending about saidsleeve at a point spaced from its outer end, a handle portion encirclingsaid sleeve adjacent said shoulder, a flange on the end of said sleeveclamping said handle portion to the sleeve for rotation in unisontherewith, a bearing encircling the sleeve and rotatably supporting thesame, a flange se cured to said bearing and designed to engage thesurface of the door about said shank, and means for holding said flangefrom longitudinal movement relative to said sleeve.

7. The structure described in claim 6 in which the means for holding theflange from longitudinal movement relative to the sleeve includes adeformed end on the sleeve holding said bearing adjacent said shoulderencircling the sleeve.

8. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housingsupporting said latch bolt for reciprocation, a handle shank extendingtransversely through said housing, latch mechanism connecting saidhandle shank to said latch bolt for reciprocating said latch bolt uponrotative movement of said handle shank, a sleeve encircling one end ofsaid shank, means securing said sleeve to said shank for rotationtherewith and longitudinal movement therewith, a cylindrical outersurface on said sleeve, a handle secured to said sleeve for rotation inunison therewith, a bearing encircling said sleeve and rotatablysupporting the same, a flange secured to said bearing and extendingoutwardly from the shank to overlie a portion of the door surface, adisc secured to said flange, said disc having an aperture therein, alocking member on said shank and rotatable therewith, said lockingmember being supported on the shank adjacent said sleeve, means forholding said locking member from longitudinal movement on said shank,said locking member supporting said shank for limiting axial movement,said locking member being movable into or out of said aperture in saiddisc, and cooperable means between said disc and said locking member tohold said locking member from relative rotation when engaged in saidaperture.

9. The structure described in claim 8 and including a handle secured tothe other end of said shank. 10. The structure described in claim 8 andincluding a bearing secured to the other surface of the door supportingthe other end of said shank, and a handle secured to said other end ofsaid shank.

11. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housing slidablysupporting said latch bolt, a handle shank extending through saidhousing on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said latchbolt, latch mechanism connecting said shank to said latch bolt forreciprocating the latch bolt upon rotative movement of the shank, asleeve encircling said shank on either side of the door and rotatablewith the shank, means connecting one of said sleeves to said shank tohold this sleeve from longitudinal movement on the shank, the shankbeing longitudinally slidable relative to the other sleeve, resilientmeans carried by said shank frictionally engaging said other sleeve tothereby hold said shank in a selected longitudinal position relative tosaid other sleeve, bearings on either side of the door encircling saidsleeves and supporting the sleeves for relative rotation, flangesconnected to said bearings and engaging opposite surfaces of the door,and means extending through the door connecting said flanges and holdingthe same against the door.

12. In a door latch of the class described, a handle shank, respectivemeans slidably supporting opposite ends of said shank, fixed meansadjacent a portion of said shank, locking means carried by said shankengageable with said fixed means to prevent rotation of said shank, anda bowed spring extending axially along a section of said shank, saidspring frictionally engaging the interior surface of one of the meansslidably supporting a shank end to maintain selective engagement anddisengagement between said locking means and said fixed means.

HAROLD WALTER FALK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 36,053 Hill July 29, 1862 346,349 Biggs July 27, 18861,584,153 Sullivan May 11, 1926 1,681,187 Kessling Aug. 21, 19281,739,654 Schlage Dec. 17, 1929 1,826,093 Schlage Oct. 6, 1931 2,244,238Best June 3, 1941 2,484,961 Russell et al Oct. 18, 1949

